Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As Deputy Seán Kenny said, there will be another opportunity to mention the fact that he is not standing in the next election. I will not say he is going away or retiring because I do not believe anybody ever retires entirely from politics.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter today and I am pleased to outline the position. Deputy Seán Kenny and I have already had a discussion on this and, hopefully, we will do more than what is in my formal reply. The modern mental health service, integrated with other areas of the wider health service, extends from promoting positive mental health and suicide prevention through to supporting those experiencing severe and disabling mental illness. It includes specialised secondary care services for children and adolescents, adults, older persons and those with an intellectual disability or a mental illness. The development of a mental health service is a priority for the Government. We have provided an additional €160 million inring-fenced funding over 2012-16 to modernise mental health services in line with the commitments in A Vision for Change and the programme for Government. This provided approximately 1,150additional posts to enhance mental health and suicide prevention services generally. Of these, approximately 947 had been recruited as of the end November 2015, while the remainder are at various stages of the recruitment process.

The Ashlin Centre is a centre caring for patients with a range of mental illnesses. In view of the sensitivities involved, although I understand that the parents of this young man have given the Deputy permission to speak on the matter, I do not propose to go into great detail about the individual circumstances. However, as I mentioned, I have spoken to the Deputy in a private capacity and he has outlined the young man's circumstances to me. I am informed that the person in question is under the care of a consultant psychiatrist and receiving a high level of nursing and multidisciplinary care. The multidisciplinary team involved will work actively to ensure that whatever supports are required are in place to enable this person to transfer to the most appropriate care setting when they are ready to be transferred or discharged. I understand that north Dublin mental health services are currently working with a provider with a view to assessing and accessing an appropriate residential care package to meet this person's future care needs. The HSE has assured me that it will keep this person's family updated on developments, as the Deputy has confirmed with regard to the communications that have occurred with the family.

It is quite difficult to go into detail when one is talking about an individual case, but I have assured the Deputy that I will make further inquiries. I am sure the resolution to this young man's difficulties will be achieved shortly.

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